The election of officers for 2024 took place at the Syracuse Parks and Recreation Board meeting Monday night, Jan. 8. Pictured are Vice President Jeff Nicodemus, left, and President Paul Newcomer. InkFreeNews photo by Phoebe Muthart.

By Phoebe Muthart
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — The Syracuse Parks and Recreation Board started off the new year by hearing some project updates at its meeting Monday, Jan. 8.

Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, said the Henry Ward Park pavilion and restroom project is mostly done.

“All work has been finished other than concrete work, which will be done in the spring,” Jonsson said. “The majority of their (the contractor) part is done.”

The old playground has been removed. The new playground will be installed some time in the spring. Part of the new playground has been stored at a park facility and the rest of the equipment will be shipped next month.

Jonsson is soliciting quotes to remove the old restroom and storage building.

Jonsson presented the tree board report. He has applied for a Tree City USA designation. The town also may qualify by having enough points for the Growth Award. Jonsson said he will know in March if the town receives these designations.

He said the tree report has been an “ongoing tally” since 2000 when a tree ordinance was first adopted in Syracuse.

The facilities committee, which was formed last year, came up with a list of projects that need to be completed this year and the next couple of years. One of those is a new drinking fountain at Lakeside Park. It will be replaced in the summer. This is one of the top priorities the committee said it wanted done, he said.

He said money was set aside in 2023 for projects and improvements that need to be done in 2024.

Jonsson also gave board members a list of the park inventory and master plan for all facilities, such as Lakeside Park, SCC, Schrock Fields and the park vehicles and equipment.

Program Director Darin Lursen gave the program report. A princess party will be held Saturday, Feb. 24, and registration is now open.

An indoor garage sale is Saturday, March 2, at the Syracuse Community Center; registration for vendors will begin at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10.

Yoga is at 9 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

A euchre tournament is at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at SCC.

The basketball league started playing this week, said Lursen; eight teams have registered.

Jonsson gave the financial report from Dec. 11 to Jan. 8. He also gave the financial report for 2023 for members to review.

The 2023 encumbrance list was presented to board members. The total is $79,869.65 and includes six vendors. The highest total is $28,500 and the vendor is J.W. Stookey, which did the Ward Park pavilion work.

The election of officers for 2024 also took place. The president is Paul Newcomer and the vice president is Jeff Nicodemus.

The next meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12, at SCC. Meetings are open to the public.